4 Perfect places to discover the history in Hanoi

1. Old Quarter

The Old Quarter (Vietnamese: Phố cổ Hà Nội) is the name commonly given to the historical civic urban core of Hanoi, Vietnam, located outside the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long. This quarter used to be the residential, manufacturing and commercial center, where each street was specialized in one specific type of manufacturing or commerce.

Another common name referring to approximately the same area is the 36 streets (Vietnamese: Hà Nội 36 phố phường), after the 36 streets or guilds that used to make up the urban area of the city.

2. Saint Joseph Cathedral

St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Vietnamese: Nhà thờ Lớn Hà Nội lit. ’Grand Cathedral of Hanoi’, Nhà thờ Chính tòa Thánh Giuse; French: Cathédrale Saint-Joseph d’Hanoï) is a Catholic church on Nhà Chung Street, in the Hoàn Kiếm District of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The cathedral is named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam.

Construction began in 1884, with an architectural style resembling the Notre Dame de Paris. The church was one of the first structures built by the colonial government of French Indochina when it opened in December, 1886 and is the oldest church in Hanoi.

Mass is celebrated in the cathedral several times during the day. For the Sunday Mass at 6:00 PM, large crowds spill out into the streets. Prayers and hymns are broadcast to the plaza outside; Catholics who are unable to enter the cathedral congregate in the street and listen to hymns.

Address: 40 P. Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000.

3. Hoa Lo Prison

A place of suffering for decades, Hoa Lo Prison offers a poignant yet powerful insight into Vietnam’s struggle for independence.

The museum at Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed “Hanoi Hilton” by American POW’s during the Vietnam War. Senator John McCain was imprisoned here after being shot down over Hanoi.

Hỏa Lò Prison (Vietnamese: [hwâː lɔ̀], Nhà tù Hỏa Lò; French: Prison Hỏa Lò) was a prison in Hanoi originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”. Following Operation Homecoming, the prison was used to incarcerate Vietnamese dissidents and other political prisoners, including the poet Nguyễn Chí Thiện. The prison was demolished during the 1990s, although its gatehouse remains a museum.

Address: 1 P. Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.

4. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a renowned old theater in the capital city of Hanoi, representing the artistry of Vietnamese culture. The site has amazed many visitors with sparkling performances of controlling puppets and enchanting tales.

Hanoi is an alluring city with more than 1,000 years of history, rich culture, delectable cuisine, and countless attractions. Tourists who are fond of Vietnamese classical art should not miss out on Thang Long Water Puppet Theater on their Hanoi travel. The theater has captivated thousands of visitors every year coming to admire world-famous water puppet shows.

Address: 57B P. Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.